MORGANTOWN, WV — Gov. Joe Manchin was on hand Monday to help dedicate
the state's two newest Wildlife Management Areas.
was the Pedlar WMA, which has two fishing ponds and a shooting range.
two fishing ponds and a shooting range.
range.
"As the population continues to grow and houses encroach on rural lands due to
urban sprawl, land access for hunters continues to decrease in the United States,"
said NWTF CEO Rob Keck. "As a result, many hunters across the nation depend
on state- and federally-owned public hunting lands for a place for them and their
families to hunt." For years, we've been working to improve access to hunting
lands with great success.
The Federation, a national nonprofit conservation group, has been working for
years to improve access to hunting lands with great success. So far the NWTF has
contributed more than $8.3 million to purchase nearly 400,000 acres of land for
public hunting nationwide.
"The future of conservation is linked to the future of hunting," said Dave Truban,
NWTF's West Virginia State Chapter vice president. "Hunters care about the
outdoors. There has to be good, public hunting areas to ensure the future of
hunting and conservation."
The NWTF's contribution to the project came from the West Virginia State
Chapter's Hunting Heritage Super Fund, which generates money through Hunting
Heritage Super Fund Banquets, at which chapters and volunteers raise money
through ticket sales, silent auctions, live auctions and raffles.
The money generated is combined with donations from corporate sponsors and
individuals concerned about wildlife conservation. Partnerships with these
corporations, individuals and wildlife agencies result in a three to one match for
every dollar a state chapter puts in its Super Fund.
"About 15 years ago the NWTF's West Virginia state board of directors decided to
put a lot of emphasis on improving hunting opportunities in The Mountain State,"
said Curtis Taylor, WVDNR Chief of Wildlife Resources Section. "Since then, the
NWTF's volunteers have helped purchase nearly 1,500 acres throughout the
state. They're an exceptional group of sportsmen who are committed to the future
of hunting and fishing in West Virginia."
Since 1985 nearly $1 million has been raised and spent by West Virginia chapters
on projects within the state through the Super Fund and national project fund
research dollars. In addition to helping purchase land, the NWTF's West Virginia
chapters have spent more than $120,000 to improve wildlife habitat, spent nearly
$50,000 to help fund wild turkey research and spent more than $60,000 on
scholarships and NWTF conservation education boxes for schools.
"The NWTF is more than a conservation organization," said Keck. "It's a group of
people who care about their country, state and local communities and who give
back to those communities. The West Virginia chapters are excellent examples of
the best of the NWTF."
West Virginia's NWTF chapters also conduct outreach events designed to
introduce women, youth and people with disabilities to conservation, hunting and
the outdoors. The events provide outdoor activities such as shooting, archery,
fishing and hunting, from expert instructors in a safe, controlled environment.
NWTF projects have been completed on:
- Cecil H. Underwood WMA
- Center Branch WMA
- Cheat WMA
- Elk River WMA
- Frozen Camp WMA
- Jug WMA
- Lewis Wetzel WMA
- Monongahela National Forest
- Nathaniel Mountain WMA
- Sleepy Creek WMA
- Stonewall Jackson Lake WMA
- Summersville Lake WMA
- Wallback WMA
|
|
|
|
|
